Netflix has struck a definitive $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. and the full HBO catalog, marking the largest streaming merger since Disney bought Fox.
The post Netflix is buying Warner Bros. and HBO for $82.7 billion, and it could help you save money appeared first on Digital Trends.
Texas, the largest hemp THC market in the U.S., is forging ahead with state-level regulations despite looming federal restrictions.
Texas advances hemp regulations despite federal THC crackdown is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Zork, the classic text-based adventure game of incalculable influence, has been made available under the MIT License, along with the sequels Zork II and Zork III.
The move to take these Zork games open source comes as the result of the shared work of the Xbox and Activision teams along with Microsoft’s Open Source Programs Office (OSPO). Parent company Microsoft owns the intellectual property for the franchise.
Only the code itself has been made open source. Ancillary items like commercial packaging and marketing assets and materials remain proprietary, as do related trademarks and brands.
© Marcin Wichary (CC by 2.0 Deed)
An IT glitch at the Department of Veterans Affairs is delaying the payment of education benefits for thousands of veterans’ surviving children and spouses.
The VA, through its Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, part of the GI Bill, pays education benefits for the children and spouses of veterans or service members who have died, been captured or are missing, or are totally disabled from a service-connected disability. The payments help eligible students pay for school or cover expenses while training for a job. Full-time students enrolled in this program receive nearly $1,600 each month from the VA.
The VA, in its latest contingency plans, said education benefits would be unaffected by a government shutdown, and would continue to be paid out on time. But the department has furloughed the IT staff who are able to fix this issue, and the department’s GI Bill hotline is also closed during the shutdown.
VA Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz said in a statement that some VA education benefits payments are behind schedule “due to the combined effects” of recently moving to a new claims processing system, a high volume of fall enrollments and the government shutdown.
“VA had planned additional systems enhancements to speed up the process and automate a large batch of these claims, but the Democrats’ government shutdown prevents the department from doing so,” Kasperowicz said.
Kasperowicz said any student dealing with delayed payments will be paid in full as soon as possible. The VA expects it will take until late November or early December to fully resolve the issue.
So far this month, the VA’s average processing time for these claims is about 49 days.
Ashlynne Haycock-Lohmann, director of government and legislative affairs at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), told reporters on Monday that the VA had updated the IT systems that handle these education benefits payments this summer. The VA in September reported a glitch to Congress that impacted education benefits for about 900 individuals.
Lohmann, however, said the department underestimated the impact of the glitch. In reality, she said it may have delayed payments for up to 75,000 student beneficiaries.
“VA never put anything out on out to schools. They never let the schools know that there was a problem. They never let students know that there was a problem. They told Congress it was a minor glitch. They have never taken accountability for what has happened here,” Lohmann said.
Jonathan Mackey, a senior at Southeastern Louisiana University, said he only received a partial payment of $839 last week, about $500 short of his usual monthly payment. He said the partial payment has made it harder to cover living expenses this month. Mackey, whose late father served in the Iowa National Guard, said VA’s “lack of community and accountability” has been a major source of frustration.
“Calls to the VA education have been unanswered, and we weren’t informed about the processing delays before the shutdown,” he said. “While we’re told by the schools that we’ll receive back pay eventually, we don’t know when that eventually is. And that doesn’t really help us pay the bills or feed ourselves in the meantime.”
Kaanan Mackey-Fugler, Mackey’s mother and a surviving spouse who forfeited her survivor benefits when she remarried, said this is now the third semester she’s had to step in and cover living expenses for at least one of her adult children, while they wait for reimbursement from the VA.
“Before the shutdown, we were told that our benefits wouldn’t be affected. Yet, here we are. Students and families across the country are desperate, and they’re anxious about how they’re covering bills month to month while our system’s still stalled out,” Fulger said.
Lawmakers have reached a deal to end the government shutdown, which should make it out of Congress and onto President Donald Trump’s desk later this week. But Will Hubbard, the vice president for veterans and military policy at Veterans Education Success, called on the VA to immediately reopen the GI Bill hotline and bring back furloughed IT staff to expedite claims processing.
“While there’s a deal in the works with the shutdown coming to a conclusion, every single day counts,” Hubbard said. “You have to understand that if a student is missing their payment, they’re wondering what’s going to happen the next day – not in three days, not in five days.”
In a recent survey of over 2,400 students, the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA) found that more than 1,000 reported payment disruptions, and that 740 of them attributed those delays directly to the shutdown. NAVPA President Camden Ege said students have been told to reach out to their schools if there is a problem with their VA education benefits, but said schools “don’t have those answers.”
“While the immediate cause stems from a technical glitch in VA systems, the government shutdown has made matters worse,” Ege said.
Joe Wescott, national legislative liaison for the National Association of State Approving Agencies, said that the VA should have alerted schools to its IT problems before the shutdown.
“The beginning of the fall term, this is not a good time to roll out an IT fix, about which there is uncertainty – not at all,” Wescott said.
The post VA IT glitch delays education benefits for thousands of students first appeared on Federal News Network.
© Getty Images/Kiyoshi Tanno
Nicole Elliott said she is leaving the Department of Cannabis Control, a position she’s held since 2022, to focus on other responsibilities.
California cannabis czar announces departure is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
2019 | Korean | Romance
I believe there’s a right time to read a book and until the time has arrived, you will either not enjoy reading the book or will set it aside for later. I’ve noticed the same is applicable to movies and series. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode or two because it didn’t appeal to me. Romance is a Bonus Book is one such drama. RIABB was recommended by the friend who introduced me to Korean dramas in 2019. Back then, I’d given up on the series after episode 4/5, for reasons I don’t really remember. But my 2022 viewing of RIABB has been a smooth sailing. Here’s the good and the bad of this series…
Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a 37-year-old is scrambling to upgrade her life. The former advertising copywriter has separated from her husband who cheated on her and is now an unemployed single mother. Adding to the struggle of finding suitable employment after the long career gap is the fact that her house is being razed. So, to make ends meet, she is working as a housekeeper… at her best friend Cha Eun-ho’s (Lee Jong-suk) home and he doesn’t know it!
Eun-ho, 32, is a successful author, chief editor and one of the founding members of Gyeoroo publishing. He has been in love with Dan-i since he was a teenager but obviously, the latter is clueless. In the present (of the show) Eun-ho is unaware about Dan-i’s struggles. Eventually, Dan-i finds a job at Eun-ho’s publishing house, the latter finds out about her state of affairs and drags her to live with him until she finds her footing.
The story progresses in tandem with Dan-i’s professional and personal growth. She impresses her colleagues with her hard work and creative flair, makes new chingus and love comes knocking. Of course, the journey isn’t smooth as the duo navigate through personal and professional highs and lows but then, what’s a series without some drama, right?
A very generic and mundane description of this series would be that it is a mature friends-to-lovers romance, the story of a divorced woman fighting against the odds and winning. But just as life isn’t as simple, the series isn’t as generic.
Although branded a romantic comedy, Romance is a Bonus Book may not be a series that viewers in their 20s may relate with because honestly, most of the issues that the protagonist faces are the 30s problem – especially the ‘age discrimination’ and the various societal pressures that ‘aging’ women have to face. And when I say ‘age’ here, I mean women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s subtle but evident in the way Dan-i has to fudge her resume to land a menial job, the way she is berated for trying to take a job that ‘belongs’ to someone younger and her thoughts about exploring a romantic relationship with someone younger.
The highlight of this series is Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk’s acting. The former slays as Dan-i, effortlessly showing the character’s inner struggles and determination to survive, her presence of mind and her self-belief. She adds to the existing layers of the character and in doing so, she becomes a heroine viewers will relate to and empathise with – because trust me when I say, we’ve all been there at least once in life.
And please, I simple cannot not mention Lee Jong-suk. The man with the cute face can make your heart flutter and how! Jong-suk’s broad shoulders carry the role of Eun-ho with as much ease as they carry off those amazing long coats and sweaters (a little swoon here please). His admiration, love and support for his noona is evident in every single frame and is like that warm comforter that you want to snuggle into after a hard day. There are several emotional moments and the duo do a brilliant job with these without going overboard.
A key point of attraction here is the setting – Gyeoroo publishing. It makes me want to apply for a job there right away because that’s what a dream job would be, right? Your work is an extension of a genuine love, you get to live in the world of books day in and day out, your bestie works at the office and your love interest does too! And not to forget the colleagues that range from scary and tyrannical to weird and adorable. All the supporting characters – including the potential love interests Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) and Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) – are well etched, each with backstories that justify their behaviour and add to the storyline.
One of the best moments of the series are in the last episode, when a letter drawing comparison between life-relationships-books is read out. Its poignant, its heartwarming and the reason why the title of the series makes absolute sense.
If you are the kind that needs drama and speed and a cliffhanging end to every episode then Romance Is A Bonus Book isn’t something you want to want. The series, albeit interesting, is a bit scattered and for non-Koreans, the references to books and authors can be a little confusing since we aren’t aware of them.
There is no shock value in the series, not even the unravelling of the mystery creates conflict. Moreover, with a lot of the information dropped in the first half of the series, the remaining episodes are more to tie up the knots and feel dragged out. I’d say chop off an episode and a half!
Its soothing, but sometimes, soothing can put you to sleep too.
For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott plans to issue an executive order to regulate THC products and establish a minimum purchasing age of 21.
Texas governor expected to regulate hemp-derived THC with executive order is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
2019 | Korean | Romance
I believe there’s a right time to read a book and until the time has arrived, you will either not enjoy reading the book or will set it aside for later. I’ve noticed the same is applicable to movies and series. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode or two because it didn’t appeal to me. Romance is a Bonus Book is one such drama. RIABB was recommended by the friend who introduced me to Korean dramas in 2019. Back then, I’d given up on the series after episode 4/5, for reasons I don’t really remember. But my 2022 viewing of RIABB has been a smooth sailing. Here’s the good and the bad of this series…
Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a 37-year-old is scrambling to upgrade her life. The former advertising copywriter has separated from her husband who cheated on her and is now an unemployed single mother. Adding to the struggle of finding suitable employment after the long career gap is the fact that her house is being razed. So, to make ends meet, she is working as a housekeeper… at her best friend Cha Eun-ho’s (Lee Jong-suk) home and he doesn’t know it!
Eun-ho, 32, is a successful author, chief editor and one of the founding members of Gyeoroo publishing. He has been in love with Dan-i since he was a teenager but obviously, the latter is clueless. In the present (of the show) Eun-ho is unaware about Dan-i’s struggles. Eventually, Dan-i finds a job at Eun-ho’s publishing house, the latter finds out about her state of affairs and drags her to live with him until she finds her footing.
The story progresses in tandem with Dan-i’s professional and personal growth. She impresses her colleagues with her hard work and creative flair, makes new chingus and love comes knocking. Of course, the journey isn’t smooth as the duo navigate through personal and professional highs and lows but then, what’s a series without some drama, right?
A very generic and mundane description of this series would be that it is a mature friends-to-lovers romance, the story of a divorced woman fighting against the odds and winning. But just as life isn’t as simple, the series isn’t as generic.
Although branded a romantic comedy, Romance is a Bonus Book may not be a series that viewers in their 20s may relate with because honestly, most of the issues that the protagonist faces are the 30s problem – especially the ‘age discrimination’ and the various societal pressures that ‘aging’ women have to face. And when I say ‘age’ here, I mean women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s subtle but evident in the way Dan-i has to fudge her resume to land a menial job, the way she is berated for trying to take a job that ‘belongs’ to someone younger and her thoughts about exploring a romantic relationship with someone younger.
The highlight of this series is Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk’s acting. The former slays as Dan-i, effortlessly showing the character’s inner struggles and determination to survive, her presence of mind and her self-belief. She adds to the existing layers of the character and in doing so, she becomes a heroine viewers will relate to and empathise with – because trust me when I say, we’ve all been there at least once in life.
And please, I simple cannot not mention Lee Jong-suk. The man with the cute face can make your heart flutter and how! Jong-suk’s broad shoulders carry the role of Eun-ho with as much ease as they carry off those amazing long coats and sweaters (a little swoon here please). His admiration, love and support for his noona is evident in every single frame and is like that warm comforter that you want to snuggle into after a hard day. There are several emotional moments and the duo do a brilliant job with these without going overboard.
A key point of attraction here is the setting – Gyeoroo publishing. It makes me want to apply for a job there right away because that’s what a dream job would be, right? Your work is an extension of a genuine love, you get to live in the world of books day in and day out, your bestie works at the office and your love interest does too! And not to forget the colleagues that range from scary and tyrannical to weird and adorable. All the supporting characters – including the potential love interests Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) and Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) – are well etched, each with backstories that justify their behaviour and add to the storyline.
One of the best moments of the series are in the last episode, when a letter drawing comparison between life-relationships-books is read out. Its poignant, its heartwarming and the reason why the title of the series makes absolute sense.
If you are the kind that needs drama and speed and a cliffhanging end to every episode then Romance Is A Bonus Book isn’t something you want to want. The series, albeit interesting, is a bit scattered and for non-Koreans, the references to books and authors can be a little confusing since we aren’t aware of them.
There is no shock value in the series, not even the unravelling of the mystery creates conflict. Moreover, with a lot of the information dropped in the first half of the series, the remaining episodes are more to tie up the knots and feel dragged out. I’d say chop off an episode and a half!
Its soothing, but sometimes, soothing can put you to sleep too.
For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.
A push to ban all hemp-derived cannabinoid products in Texas, a market worth an estimated $5.5 billion, failed on Wednesday night.
$5.5 billion reprieve as Texas hemp THC ban fails is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
The post 9 biggest web security news of 2018 appeared first on Detectify Blog.
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